Originally published in 1971, The Exorcist, one of the most controversial novels ever written, went on to become a literary phenomenon: It spent fifty-seven weeks on the New York Times bestseller list, seventeen consecutively at number one. Inspired by a true story of a child’s demonic possession in the 1940s, William Peter Blatty created an iconic novel that focuses on Regan, the eleven-year-old … Regan, the eleven-year-old daughter of a movie actress residing in Washington, D.C. A small group of overwhelmed yet determined individuals must rescue Regan from her unspeakable fate, and the drama that ensues is gripping and unfailingly terrifying.
Two years after its publication, The Exorcist was, of course, turned into a wildly popular motion picture, garnering ten Academy Award nominations. On opening day of the film, lines of the novel’s fans stretched around city blocks. In Chicago, frustrated moviegoers used a battering ram to gain entry through the double side doors of a theater. In Kansas City, police used tear gas to disperse an impatient crowd who tried to force their way into a cinema. The three major television networks carried footage of these events; CBS’s Walter Cronkite devoted almost ten minutes to the story. The Exorcist was, and is, more than just a novel and a film: it is a true landmark.
Purposefully raw and profane, The Exorcist still has the extraordinary ability to disturb readers and cause them to forget that it is “just a story.” Published here in this beautiful fortieth anniversary edition, it remains an unforgettable reading experience and will continue to shock and frighten a new generation of readers.
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This novel is in a class by itself. It sets the bar in Horror and Supernatural. Superb!
A good old scary story
So much better than the movie!!
I enjoyed reading this bestseller from yesteryear. It struck me as being very different from the movie, which I saw many years ago. The film version, if I recall correctly, makes Regan MacNeil, the girl possessed, the focal point of the story. The shock value of a young girl vomiting pea soup and twisting her head completely about surely sold lots of popcorn. The book focuses more on Damien Karras, a priest of troubled faith who works tirelessly to rule out all medical causes of Regan’s illness before finally accepting that the girl is possessed and in need of an exorcism, which must be approved by the Catholic church. It is also part detective story, as a police lieutenant tries to solve the murder of a film producer thrown from the possessed girl’s second-story bedroom window.
The writing is very good throughout, save for a murky prologue and repeated point-of-view violations. Mr. Blatty, the book’s author, leaps from one character’s head into another’s without chapter or sub-chapter breaks. The book would likely not exist in its present form if published today. 4 stars.
If you’ve only seen the movie, read the book. It’s even scarier and extremely well written. Unforgettable!
I was 12 when this book was published. I saw the movie, which scared the bejeezus out of me. That made me go back and take a look at the story from which the movie was made. Turns out the book is even scarier! William Peter Blatty’s possession story was spellbinding to a catholic and former alter boy who still believes in things beyond our belief and comprehension. This book took on the scariest thing I could imagine as a Catholic and then opened it up in front of me like an old wound, evil and scary and horrific, and then made me look directly at it. I couldn’t put it down!
all time great story!!
Another title everyone knows but one of the scariest I’ve read as a book
I read this when I was in middle school. I didn’t understand some of it but understood enough to be very scared.
This book kept me awake nights.. I couldn’t read it unless all the lights were on, the doors locked and the phone handy.. admittedly i was younger when it came out but combined with the movie version it remains a classic of horror.
I read this book years ago. It was the most frightening book I had ever read. I read it in one night. I couldn’t put it down.
Not a fantasy or a horror story, but a serious and compelling portrait of supernatural evil and the cost of opposing it.
This is one of the “original horror” stories that I first read. To say the “devil is in the details”, is to take this book quite literally. One of the most chilling endings of all time
Scary as fuck
At the time it was original and now it is a classic
A book that never gets old.
Spooky as Hell! Love the delivery of the story–really well done and effective!
The Exorcist has been a most talked about book and movie. Growing up my father had the movie but I was not allowed to watch it due to how scary it was. I still have yet seen the film so I have no idea if it is scary or if it’s something I could watch straight through.
Chris an famous actress is finishing filming in Georgetown. At first her and her daughter have a normal routine going, until a pounding starts happening. Events start to escalate and all are surrounded by Regan. Chris takes her to the best doctors around until the last ditch effort is to go to the church.
While reading this I didn’t really find it scary. After a while it was a chore to get through. I am one in few who found this not meeting the hype. I just can’t find myself to truly like the story. I’m just glad it’s over. I can cross it off my TBR list.
I liked it’
predictable